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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The other building I had to tend to on my trip was our Fairview, TX building. I went down there in April with my colleague Bri for a day and a half, because we were told it’d be ready by then.

It was not. It was a mess of contractors, grouting tile, touching up paint, installing doors! It was a mess. We went down for Monday – Tuesday and our first event was that Friday. It was insane. Par for the course really. So we couldn’t place any furniture or stage anything at all, so we hung artwork. Amid construction dust and careless subcontractors we dared to put up our art.

But it was all we could do. Luckily, Fairview and Richardson are like 15 minutes away from each other, so this trip I was able to go back to Fairview, add some finishing touches and see it clean and polished. It’s such a different feel but it’s the exact same floorplan. That’s one part I love about my job. The shell is the same each time (relatively), but we can achieve several different ambiances through what we put inside. Lighting, finishes, mouldings, furniture, and artwork change EVERYTHING.

Bri was mostly responsible for the finish selection in this one, as I was on maternity leave at the time, and she did a stunning job as always. I was there to help with lighting, furniture, art and everything else. I was so grateful she was able to come with me to help out. So here it is, same building – different feel.

Reception Lobby

Hallway

Game Room

Ceremony Room

Bride’s Room

Main Hall

Back Lobby

It’s not often I get to go and see each building ALL the way done, so I was super excited to get the chance to do that this time. Every time is different and exciting and stressful, but we always manage to pull it together eventually.

K I’m done with Noah’s posts. Like I said, this is mostly a record for me to keep. I hope you enjoy the pretty pictures if nothing else!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

So this last week was insane, and if you’re friends with me on FB, you’ve already seen some of the pictures, but I kind of wanted to add them here too, along with my own personal narrative of everything that went wrong.

So much, guys. So much.

For example, I show up Monday morning and there’s no sink in our game room. The sink we specified is discontinued. I have to find one NOW. I find one that’s available in Utah; problem is, I’m in Texas. So we call one of our Noah’s employees and ask him to go get one, and rush ship it. He calls an hour later and says it’ll be here Wednesday. Check.

Tuesday, they’re putting up the acoustical panels. Wait…guys…they’re ALL the wrong size! ALL OF THEM! The trim carpenters had already trimmed out where they should go, but not one of them was the correct size. Most of them we could re-trim out. Four of them were ridiculously too big. So I dig in. I tear back the fabric, re-measure, re-mark them, and take them to our contractor with a table saw. He cuts them down, I cut the fabric, re-adhere them, and stick them up. Hallelujah! They fit! Check.

Wednesday morning comes with the sink. The ridiculously DIFFERENT FROM IT’S PICTURE sink. It doesn’t even have a prayer of fitting into our base. I talk to the contractor and we decide to throw a countertop on with an undermount, if we can get it done by our first wedding in two days. By some MIRACLE the stone guy says he can do it Friday morning. 4 hours before the first wedding.

Those were the big ones. Installs are always crazy because each day lasts like 12-14 hours and you’re going non-stop. We also had to run to the other building in the area to finish it off, since I was so rushed last time. So between trips to Pier 1, Home Depot, and Target (don’t judge) we finally were able to finish off my baby. And I couldn’t be happier. So drumroll….here she is (LOTS of pics, bear with me):

Reception Lobby

Hallway

Game Room

Ceremony Room

Bride’s Room

Back Lobby (ignore the random guy…and the roll on the floor…Hey I said it was MOSTLY done)

Main Hall – Reception Room (after the wedding, I think…)

Exterior

Sigh of relief.

The good news is, we’ve gotten rave reviews so far. Which makes me so happy. I love knowing that the space is being enjoyed and used by people on one of the most special days of their lives.

Siiigh. It’s not huge, or even RIDICULOUSLY expensive. Just more than I can do currently.

But I love it so much. So then I got to thinking about what I would build, if I could build from scratch, which let’s face it, is my REAL dream. And I realized I need to find a way to become super successful at something so I can afford my dream house.

I have a Pinterest board called Dream Home Ideas with over 350 pins on it. Maybe I need to narrow down.

But I don’t think I will, because that’s what dreaming is about, right?

What about you? Do you ever dream about what you would do, if you could do ANYTHING?

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Some of you author/blogger friends are probably aware of the contest on Michelle Davidson Argyle’s blog for a full Manuscript review. She set this up awhile ago, and I tentatively entered. You had to fill out a form and then in 250 words or less summarize your novel. She said she’d choose based on what interested her the most. I never get chosen for anything, so I was sure someone else would get the big prize. But this morning the wonderful Miss Michelle announced the winner HERE…

Did you see that?

SHE CHOSE MINE!!!

I can’t tell you how excited I am and I just wanted to give a big WOOT to the WORLD about it. She’s so talented and has several books published already so I see this as a HUGE help for my floundering, amateur self. I just wanted to publicly thank her and share the happy news!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

My first rejection for MS#2 was a hopeful one. It was not a form rejection, rather it said it wasn’t the right project “despite it’s polish and poise.” That got me through the next two or three rejections. It was something to hold on to.

But we’re on rejection 8 or 9 now. Which I KNOW is not a lot, but still, each one stings a little bit more. “Not the right fit,” over and over again.

Then I got a little slap in the face last week when, in my professional life, I had to write those emails to candidates I’d interviewed and wasn’t going to hire. “You’re not the right fit at this time. Sorry and good luck.” It didn’t hurt less, I’ll tell you that. I felt so bad writing it.

But I suddenly understood those on the other side a little more. Maybe my name is being cursed right now. That’s not a good feeling either. But at the end of the day you have to do what’s best for you professionally. And agents are no different.

I just hope ONE of them will feel like it might be the right fit. I feel so strongly about this one, and I really want to pursue the crap out of it. So I’ll put on my big girl pants, take a shot of who-the-crap-cares and keep sending it out. Right?

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Welcome to the new blog! I was getting bored with my other one so I decided it was time for a fresh new look. I hope you like it! I have been gravitating to this color scheme for awhile now. I keep seeing it pop up in things I do.

Another fun new thing I added was a link to my Pinterest page, over there in the sidebar. I know, I’m slow. But I’m excited to share this with you guys because I pin…A LOT. As you can see, if you click that little button right thurrr. Anyway, if you want to see how a designer’s brain works, follow me. I brainstorm and organize all of my Noah’s projects there, as well as book inspiration, and just funny things that I find.

For example:

Been there, done that.

Anyway, I hope I’m not setting a precedent by blogging three days in a row, but it seems once I stopped putting so much pressure on myself to have perfect planned-out posts, it became fun again. Sorry for you guys…

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Okay, so I have managed to support my Sims habit during this little blogger interlude and I’ve gotten more and more into the game with every expansion, as is expected. The last one was University Life and it’s kind of amazing. That was my favorite expansion in the Sims 2.

But now they’re coming out with this:

Say whaaaaaaat?

I’m so freaking excited. I love the Sims. Always have, always will. And this will definitely add to the game. I have to say that one of the parts about this trailer that makes me the MOST excited, is seeing the little baby play in the water. Tee hee!

Anyway, on that note, the hubs and I have done two Sims University Life video’s on his YouTube channel, if you want to check them out. He also does a ton of Minecraft, Starcraft, Bioshock Infinite, and some other game Let’s Play series’. I have to say I don’t fully understand them all, but people seem to like them. I like his “Hammer and Sickle” series, where he shows off one of his many personalities; Meliosh the Russian Adventurer.

This is my forum for documenting growth in all facets of my life. Most people know one side of me, this is to show ALL sides of me: the mother, the designer, the author, and yes, I'm saying it out loud, the gamer. You're welcome to take this journey with me, wherever it will lead!